Total solar eclipse wonder stuns America

NEW YORK: In one surreal moment, the North American continent watched the total solar eclipse on Monday. With the moon covering the sun during daytime, darkness loomed all over the region at odd hours. The solar eclipse, which started at 11:42 am Eastern Daylight Time or EDT, was completed around 4:52 pm (9:13 pm yesterday - 2;22 am Indian time).

The eclipse, first visible over the Cook Islands in the Pacific Ocean, then appeared in Mexico and 13 US states. Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada was the last North American region to witness a total eclipse. The phase in which the moon completely covers the sun (totality) lasted for 4 minutes and 28 seconds. The duration varied from place to place.

The first phase of the total solar eclipse appeared in North America at Mazatlán on the Pacific coast of Mexico. The eclipse was then fully visible in the southeast direction. At 2:27 pm, the eclipse started appearing in Texas, USA.

May people stationed near the famous Niagara Falls, watched the wonder unfold right in front of their eyes. Special lenses and solar filters were used to protect the eyes. The total eclipse started at 4:18 pm in Niagara.

Hundreds of thousands of people from Asian countries including India witnessed the three-hour live broadcast of NASA through YouTube. NASA estimates that a total of 3.15 crore people saw the eclipse through their official channel.